"You know the rule. You fall behind, you get left behind."

Josia, the experienced captain of a colorful pirate crew, single-minded and unsentimental in the pursuit of her goals. Her one priority is to finish the job and evade capture at all costs; so far, she has been successful.

Josia has - or had - a daughter named Johanna. One night, she receives a vision of her daughter beset by a pale monster with five eyes and ten horns, and next morning promptly turns the ship north to find her. The ensuing adventure is the subject of Book 3.